COLONIE -- The first Trader Joe's in the Capital District is now open and ready for business.

Shoppers lined up at the new store at 79 Wolf Road Friday to check out their new neighborhood grocery store. Their Hawaiian-inspired elements were all set for the 8 a.m. ceremonial lei cutting that welcomed the new customers.

"The turnout is amazing," said store manager, Captain Shawn Minihane.

This wasn't the first grand opening that Minihane has been to, but it's his first as the captain.

Advertisement

When the doors opened, shoppers poured in while being greeted at the door by employees dressed in Hawaiian shirts giving out leis to each customer.

The first shopper of the brand new store was Barbara Hildreth of Cohoes who was at the very front of the line. She was also the first one out of the store with several bags of new Trader Joe's groceries.

"It was great," Hildreth said. "I got exactly what I wanted."

Hildreth, who used to travel to Hadley, Massachusetts, to shop at Trader Joe's, said she enjoys shopping there because unlike other local supermarkets, there is only one brand from which to choose.

"You don't ever have to worry about comparing prices," Hildreth said.

She said she was in and out of the store quickly with everything she was looking for and the customer service was great.

"The crew members were highly spirited," Hildreth said.

After everyone entered the store, crew members were available to help shoppers bring their carts and bags back and forth to the parking lot to help.

The store will also continue to celebrate their grand opening throughout the day with live music, food demonstrations and face painting for kids.

As far as the traffic went, Minihane said the Colonie police were out there on the street and in the parking lot doing a great job of helping to direct traffic into the new Trader Joe's.